Everything about Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary, eh?

New tonight: We Day on CTV

We Day 2012, CTV
This fall, nearly 20,000 students in cities across Canada gathered to celebrate We Day, the largest youth-empowerment event of its kind, led by international children’s’ rights activists and Free The Children co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger. The jam-packed, one-hour special features the most inspiring performances from the We Day events in Toronto (Sept. 28) and Vancouver (Oct. 18). Viewers can witness the inspired and inspiring performances by THE X FACTOR’s Demi Lovato, Vancouver’s own Hedley, singer-songwriter My Name Is Kay, Canadian superstar Nelly Furtado, surprise Toronto guest K’NAAN, American rockers One Republic, and surprise Vancouver guest Cody Simpson.

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Canadian TV’s Fall Hits and Misses

By Diane Wild of TV, eh?

Now that CBC has announced its winter season and other networks’ January premieres are starting to trickle in, it seems like a good time to look back at the hits and misses of Canadian television this fall. I’m picking three of each – feel free to add your own in the comments.

Hits

Flashpoint
It’s rare for a show to end on its own terms before microscopic viewing levels force cancellation, but Flashpoint’s producers decided to walk away after a long, successful five-year run, and the final season has been its most successful yet in terms of ratings. CTV is giving the much-loved series a big send-off with a two-part finale December 6 and 13, a screening in Toronto, an online chat and live after-show, and the opportunity for fans to win memorabilia. (P.S. watch for a special Flashpoint fundraising auction by the creators coming soon here, too.)

Murdoch Mysteries
One of the best feel-good news stories in Canadian TV this year – breaking a string of dismal news on cancellation after cancellation – was CBC reviving Murdoch Mysteries after its Citytv death. A surprising sequel to that happy news is the ratings season five has earned for CBC this fall – a season that had just completed a summer run on Citytv, yet in its replay is getting even more viewers. New episodes start on January 7, and my ratings expectations are high.

Citytv
I know, I know, they cancelled Murdoch Mysteries while the ratings were still good, but they did give it a five-season run, and after parent company Rogers launched FX Canada, Murdoch didn’t fit the brand anymore (“brand” in this case meaning shows that can be rerun in perpetuity across all of a company’s channels to begrudgingly fulfill Canadian content requirements.) And yes, Citytv inflicted The Bachelor Canada on us this fall. But they deserve some credit for having more scripted shows in the works than we’ve seen in a long time — Seed and Package Deal — and keeping that news coming over the fall. Yes, I’m giving them kudos for having two scripted series coming up. At least two is more than one.

Misses

Global
It’s hard to really argue with this strategy, but the network doesn’t even pretend it will send Canadian shows into battle with US fall premieres. Rookie Blue ended its season just in time to scoot out of the way. In this fall’s Friday Death Timeslots, with nothing else to simulcast, Global has been airing the scarcely promoted newsmagazine series 16×9 plus Bomb Girls reruns. Let’s hope in the future they will build on the success of Bomb Girls with more of their own content to spread thinly across all of parent company Shaw’s networks.

Strombo at 7
It seemed like a good idea at the time: move Canada’s Boyfriend earlier in the day where more viewers could date him. But 7 pm isn’t quite primetime either, and it turns out Strombo isn’t quite news-like or Coronation Street-like enough to thrive in that timeslot sandwich, and some of the show tweaks didn’t quite work for me, including the panel trying to be funny about random subjects. Ratings took a nosedive from the former Jeopardy/Wheel of Fortune heights … but at least Strombo is undeniably Canadian.

Over the Rainbow
Judging by my Twitter stream, the people who watched enjoyed the show. Judging by the ratings, not enough people watched. It’s the kind of show that shouldn’t be too expensive to produce so maybe it satisfied CBC’s expectations, but it was yet another reality show and no Battle of the Blades ratings-wise. Then again, how can you beat hockey players and figure skaters on Canadian television? The Dorothys didn’t do it.

So … what were your hits and misses in Canadian TV this fall?

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New tonight: Marketplace, The Fifth Estate, Match Game

Marketplace, CBC – “When the Repairman Knocks”
We outfit garages with hidden cameras and put garage repairmen to the test.

The Fifth Estate, CBC – “Lance Armstrong: Master of Spin”
Lance Armstrong was an inspiration to millions – he overcame a deadly disease and was hailed as one of the world’s greatest athletes – but insiders knew the truth. the fifth estate examines the widespread use and abuse of doping in international cycling and how Lance Armstrong kept this dark secret for years.

Match Game, Comedy
Kick off the weekend with guest panellists Greg Grunberg (HEROES), Jeremy Hotz (MY FAVOURITE MARSIAN), Elvira Kurt (COMEDY NOW!), and Tara Spencer-Nairn (THE LISTENER).

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New tonight: Flashpoint, Nature of Things, Doc Zone, Liquidator, Match Game

Flashpoint, CTV – “A World of Their Own”
Team One is on the trail of Cole Berkley (Andrew Walker, Lawman), a desperate man who kidnaps a prominent politician in a last-ditch effort to save his land. Struggling to connect with Cole, the Team discovers he’s risking his life for his deaf nephew (Connor Price, Good Luck Chuck) who’s scarred by a traumatic past. But when the team learns that Cole himself is being used, Team One faces an explosive situation, with the life of Cole’s nephew hanging in the balance.

The Nature of Things, CBC – “The Norse: An Arctic Mystery”
An intrepid Arctic archaeologist is on the verge of proving that the first meeting between Europeans and North Americans happened centuries before Christopher Columbus. There are the tantalizing bits of evidence, like the Norse ship station in Newfoundland. But nothing has been found there or anywhere else to suggest that Arctic peoples and the Norse met face to face a thousand years ago. Until now.

Doc Zone, CBC – “Tales From KP”
Stories of some of the most carefully guarded secrets of Kingston Penitentiary with some of the most unlikely characters —on both sides of the law!

The Liquidator, OLN – “No Rest for the Wicked”
After reaching his breaking point, Jeff reluctantly lets his family take him on a brief vacation to help him de-stress from work. Will the vacation stop him from making deals?

Match Game, Comedy
Holy BLANK! It’s D. L. Hughley (D.L. HUGHLEY BREAKS THE NEWS), Steve Smith (THE RED GREEN SHOW), Sabrina Jalees (COMEDY NOW!), and Laura Cilevitz (VIDEO ON TRIAL) on the panel!

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W Network new shows include Majumder Manor, Love It Or List It Vancouver, more

From a media release:

W Network Original Series Warms Up Winter with a Mix of Fan Favourites, New Series and Home-Grown Talent

Corus Entertainment’s W Network announced today a slate of new and returning original series launching on its 2013 winter schedule, including: Love It or List It Vancouver, hosted by Jillian Harris and Todd Talbot, Buying & Selling with the Property Brothers, Majumder Manor starring Shaun Majumder and his fiancé Shelby Fenner, and the group dating series Come Date With Me. Also, viewer favourites Undercover Boss Canada, Candice Tells All and My House, Your Money are back with brand-new episodes.

W NETWORK WINTER PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS:

NEW SERIES:

MAJUMDER MANOR – SERIES PREMIERE
Airs: Mondays at 7 p.m. beginning January 7 (30 minutes)
Shaun Majumder, one of Canada’s most beloved comedic talents and three-time Gemini Award winner has a dream to give something truly special back to his modest hometown of Burlington, NL. From his beginnings in the tiny community of 350 people, to travelling the world as a standup comic and television star, Shaun has returned with the plan to build a 5-Star eco-friendly lodge with a transcendent modern design and a spectacular restaurant. The high-end destination he dreams of is a far cry from the rustic camper trailer that he once lived in as a child in Burlington. Majumder Manor is the hilarious and humbling story of one man’s attempt to give back to a community that’s given him so much. The series is produced by Take The Shot Productions Inc. in association with W Network.

LOVE IT OR LIST IT VANCOUVER – SERIES PREMIERE
Airs: Mondays at 10 p.m. beginning January 7 (60 minutes)
Love It or List It Vancouver showcases families in B.C.’s largest metropolitan city who are struggling with homes that no longer suit their needs. It’s up to designer Jillian Harris (The Bachelorette Season V, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition) to put a stop to the wandering eyes of our homeowners, armed with their list of “must-haves to love it” and a design she hopes will persuade them to stay. Meanwhile, realtor Todd Talbot is determined to get homeowners to relocate by taking their list of “must-haves to list it” and finding them new digs. Every episode will take viewers on an emotional rollercoaster as Jillian and Todd battle it out for the homeowners’ allegiance. The stakes are high as the homeowners weigh in on the financial and emotional decisions of buying a new home or staying in the renovated one. Love It or List It Vancouver is produced by Big Coat Productions in association with W Network. For more information about the series, please click here.

BUYING & SELLING WITH THE PROPERTY BROTHERS – SERIES PREMIERE
Airs: Tuesdays at 8 p.m. beginning January 8 (60 minutes)
Join Drew and Jonathan Scott on their brand-new property adventures as they help homeowners find their dream home, then upgrade and sell their current home in the all-new series Buying and Selling with the Property Brothers. Realtor Drew helps them find the right house, Contractor Jonathan tackles the renovation of the family home in order to transform and list it for top dollar. But as soon as Drew finds the right home, the race is on to buy the dream house and sell their old house quickly before breaking their budget with two mortgages. Viewers get an intimate look at the realities of living through a renovation and agonizing over which house to buy, as each family captures their journey on diary cameras. This high-stakes series is full of the anxiety, stress and all the real-estate drama that families face when buying and selling their homes at the same time. Buying and Selling with the Property Brothers is produced by Cineflix Inc. in association with W Network. For more information about the series, please click here.

COME DATE WITH ME – SERIES PREMIERE
Airs: Premieres as a sneak peek Saturday, February 9 at 1 p.m. and airs regularly on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. beginning February 20 (60 minutes)
Come Date With Me combines the cooking, criticizing and competition of Come Dine With Me and adds a hot new twist – romance. Four desirable competitors all vie to win over the same eligible single with a fun afternoon rendezvous, followed by a self-prepared romantic meal cooked in their home. The catch? Instead of a one-on-one dinner time romance, the meal must include all the fellow competitors. Our eligible single rates each activity and dinner party and the highest rated will join her or him on a $1000 dream date. The romantic rivalry comes to a boil in every episode as each potential match balances seduction and sabotage in this battle of the hearts – and stomachs. Based on ITV Studios’ international hit series Come Dine With Me, is produced by Proper Television in association with W Network. For more information about the series, please click here.

NEW EPISODES OF RETURNING SERIES:

UNDERCOVER BOSS CANADA – SEASON 2
Season 2 Airs: Thursdays at 9 p.m. premiering January 17 (60 minutes)
Season 2 of the audience favourite Undercover Boss Canada follows executives as they leave the comfort of their top floor offices to go undercover on the ground floor. The series from Alliance Films is based on the format devised by Studio Lambert, part of the ALL3MEDIA group of companies. For more information about the series, please click here.

LOVE IT OR LIST IT – NEW EPISODES
Airs: Mondays at 10 p.m. with new episodes in April (60 minutes)
When a house no longer feels like home, homeowners are left with a big financial and emotional question: renovate or real estate? Each episode of Love It or List It pits realtor David Visentin and designer Hilary Farr against each other as they compete for the homeowners’ final decision to stay or go. David’s insider’s perspective on the real estate market helps target listings to prospective buyers, but Hilary is determined to show homeowners that, within their budget, she can transform their worn-out house into a castle they can love. Love It or List It is produced by Big Coat Productions in association with W Network. For more information about the series, please click here.

MY HOUSE, YOUR MONEY – NEW EPISODES
Airs: Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. beginning January 8 (30 minutes)
My House, Your Money reveals what really goes on behind closed doors as prospective home buyers turn to their extended family members for financial help in order to acquire their dream home. Cameras catch all the drama and high-stakes pressure of the classic generational tug-of-war as families fight for their property pick and struggle to come to a compromise. My House, Your Money is produced by Cineflix (Mom & Dad) Inc. in association with W Network. For more information about the series, please click here.

CANDICE TELLS ALL – NEW EPISODES
Airs: Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. beginning January 9 (30 minutes)
Produced by Fusion Television in association with W Network, Candice Tells All is a rollicking fun look at celebrated designer Candice Olson’s fabulous signature makeovers. Viewers tag along as Candice – armed with her trademark sense of humour and a double latte – meets with her army of talented suppliers, sources unique furnishings and handles unexpected renovation challenges along the way. As one of North America’s top designers, Candice dishes her best trade secrets while juggling clients, multiple job sites and a personal life. From inspiration, to execution, to completion – this half-hour series offers an entertaining glimpse into Candice’s world and her design process, revealing the secrets of timeless design principles and where she finds her inspiration. For more information about the series, please click here.

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